Letter: Jury nullification threat to rule of law

Editor: Some years ago, members of a high-profile jury acted on their own agenda to ignore the rules of evidence and set free a murderer. They called it “jury nullification.”

Recently, members of another high-profile jury did follow the law and rules of evidence as they voted to acquit the defendant. Nevertheless, some groups are rejecting that lawful verdict in favor of their own special agenda -- slapping us with another form of “jury nullification.”

Folks, pursuing your own agenda at the expense of law and order is called anarchy. Such abandonment of civilized behavior means that we all lose. You can’t have it both ways: either living under the rule of law or rejecting it whenever you don’t get your way. Take your pick.

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Short; sweet, and to the point. I like this comment. It is not the function of the jury to pander to the whims of public opinion. Their job is to contemplate the evidence presented to them, evaluate it's credibility, and decide if it meets the criteria of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In this case they found that the facts didn't meet that standard. Case closed.

The idea of jury nullification is one that is little known but based on
Constitutional principle. Sometimes even common people have better sense than the laws passed from on 'high'!
It rightfully, under some circumstances, gives juries more power than even the Supreme court, to judge and basically overturn unjust laws.
It is something that the founders gave citizens to use, not wantonly, but with great thought and responsibility to give honest, thoughtful, and common sense minded citizens some ultimate authority back to them.
Use it indeed, but wisely.
Totally disagree with the writer.

When did it become civilized to carry a concealed weapon to the movies on your Saturday night date? When did carrying a concealed weapon to a fist fight become courageous or civilized? What is civilized about shooting a 17 year old while on your way to the grocery store? When did vigilantism once again become fashionable and civilized ?

There is a lot of behaviors going on in this country that many would consider uncivilized. You need to decide what is "civilized" before telling us to put our values and beliefs in check. As a nation we grow as our understandings and respect for other co-equal fellow citizens grows not because we want to return to yesteryear with a gun hidden in your pants!!!!

I respect the verdict, I really do -- but what happened that night was wrong and there must be a laws that can assign some level of accountability, responsibility and culpability instead of laws that encourage its repetition. There is no cause for celebration.

I have now placed you into the same category as your mentor politico.
You are out of you mind! That crystal palace you live in is a joke...if your even half way serious about some of the CRAP you spout off then you have some real issues. You are so far out of touch with how the real world really is. After posting your Vita and bragging about working for a fortune 5 company I tried to take you with a grain of salt because I realize you've got "special problems".
But make no mistake... I loathe your type.

This is a quote from the individual you voted for...you should be proud!

"Obama said there are "very few" black men who haven't been followed while shopping at a department store -- "that includes me."
"I don't want to exaggerate this, but those sets of experiences inform how the African American community interprets what happened one night in Florida," Obama said."

How should I interpret what he said?
How should I and the "white" race interpret me getting my [filtered word] beat more times than I can count by between 2-6 black thugs walking home from Murray back in the day?
My [filtered word] was kicked because I am white! I know this because they informed me it was occurring for the sole fact that I'm white!
How long did you live in or near the hood Lonnya?
Your a joke Lonnya and I will treat you as such.
Enjoy your cognac.

I’m not sure what I said that set off such a harangue. I thought my comment was simple and straightforward enough for most to find some element of truth or merit in it.

I feel sorry for you – I really do. Your hatred and bigotry is apparently consumed way too much of your life. I also feel bad if you were in fact beaten by a black mob through no fault or actions of your own. That was wrong and I hope they were caught and punished. Either way, you should try to move on.

Your “incident” horrible as it was apparently occurred once. The President spoke about behaviors that occur to African Americans every day of their life. I can’t make you sensitive enough to understand the effects of endemic racial bigotry but it exists and it is not without social, moral and economic consequence. Sadly, people like you promote it and try to insure it survives well into the future. You’re apparently hung up on some asinine concept of protecting your heritage. “My problem” of which you speak is simple. The” real world” is not a place of the status quo, not a place we try to maintain, it is a place we try to make better, it is a place where change and progress continue. The future most of us hope for is one where all Co-Equal American citizens are judged not by the color of their skin but the content of their character. That is apparently either beyond your comprehension or simply a proposition you reject.

If “my problem” makes me out of touch, in a “crystal palace”, then that is a label and a home I will proudly display around you. The good news (for me) is the future, and history, are on my side. Most of us know we are not there yet, most know there is more to be done, but most also know you are the past -- and the future is bright ahead.

BTW – I am a white male not female as you have previously stated and “my ilk” is a proud American Viet Nam era veteran. “My ilk”, “my type” does not “loathe” you SNAFU but we do stare in wonderment at your apparent myopic ignorance and pettiness of spirit. Somewhere within you there are probably some redeeming features. You should try to display them once in a while